by: Eliza Cross

“I hope you’ll enjoy this collection of special recipes celebrating the incomparable flavor, tantalizing texture, and vibrant color of the perfectly pleasing pumpkin. Go on, Pumpkin It Up!” Eliza Cross.

I love fall but I’m not one who goes searching for everything pumpkin spice as soon as it is available. However, one of the best deserts I have ever head was my Aunt Anne’s pumpkin cheesecake. (I have tried many times to replicate it but never succeeded.)

I was very excited to be gifted Pumpkin It Up!, from the author, to try some new pumpkin recipes. The recipes were so easy to follow and the results were flavorful and so filling.

Pumpkin, Corn, and Shrimp Bisque

I love shrimp and was intrigued by this recipe so I decided to try it. The pumpkin puree was hard to find – I finally found it at Walmart. If you aren’t hungry when you start making it, you will be as soon as you start cooking as it smells so good.

The bisque was one of teh most filling dishes I have made in a while. The pumpkin flavor isn’t overwhelming and the old bay gives a good balance to bisque.

Pumpkin-Maple Donut Holes

I didn’t have a donut hole pan so I used a mini 24 muffin pan. When I rolled the dough and dropped into the mini muffin pan I had some extra dough. Using the mini muffin pan I had to cook them an additional two minutes.

They are a great blend of flavors. I love rolling the donut holes in the cinnamon and sugar. It’s hard to just eat one or two of the donut holes!

Overall I was very impressed with Pumpkin It Up!. The recipes are very easy to follow. All of the ingredients except the pumpkin puree were really easy to find. (I was surprised with it being mid-September not being able to find the pumpkin puree at my normal grocery store). I would recommend this cookbook to anyone who wants to add a little more pumpkin to their life. My list of recipes to try from the cookbook still includes: Pumpkin Monkey Bread, Pumpkin Mashed Potatoes, Pumpkin Ravioli and Pumpkin Chocolate Swirl Brownies.